Improvement in locks for fire-arsvis



. H.` LESTR.

Mak fr Fire-Arms.

No. 161,343. Paxentedmarchsmmw 1:11 Vwz 1;' 01"; A

JOHN H. LESTER', OF NIANTIO, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND ELIAS F. MOR- GAN,OF NEV LONDON, CONNEGTICUT.

IMPRQVEMENT EN LQCKS FOR FIRE-ARMS.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. EGR-,31113, datod March30, 1875; appl'eation iiled February 2G, 1875.

To all whom it may concert:

Be it known that I, JOHN II. Lns'rnn., of Niantie, East Lyme, New Londoncounty, Gonneeticut, have invented certain Improvements relating toFire-Arms, of which the following is a specification:

I have devised and successfully applied mechanism by which the coek orhaminer of the lock is seeurely held to prevent accidental discharge. Iprefer, usually, to thus hold the hammer in the coeked position; but Ipropose to 'provide means whereby it may be so held either cocked,half-cocked, or fully down.

My mechanism not only secures the coek, but also secures itself againstaccidental derangement. It can be liberated very quichly by propermovements, but the liberating movements are such as are virtually beyonddanger of being effected by aeeident. It requires deliberate intentionand eonsiderable skill and force to liberate the hamnier and put thelock in condition for iiring.

The following is a description of what I eonsider the best means ofearrying out the invention.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a Vertical longitudinal section through the lock and theiminediately adjacent parts of a pistol. The form shown is that of anordinary revolver; but the inven-' tion will apply to any style ofrevolver. or breech-loader, or muzzle-loader, for military or sportingpurposes. It is intended to apply generally to all knds and elasses offire-arms Operating by a hammer. This figure shows the works with thehammer secured. The securmg means is operated in the same position whenthe hammer is secured in the cocked or half-cocked position. Fig. 2represent-s the sameparts in the liberated condition, ready for firing.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in both the figures.

A 1s the stock or frame. B is the hauimer, turnmg on the center or studb. 'D is the trlgger, turm'ng on the center d, and operated bythesear-spring O. E is the mainspriug, Operating the hainmer by a link,G. All these parts may be in the ordinary form and perform theirordinary functions. I is a lookingpin, standing` in a position neariyradial to the stud b, but capable of moving toward and from such stud.It 'is strongly supported and guided in the framing A, and is adapted tomatch in holes 1, 2, 3 in the hammer B. When the hammer is at fullcock-the hole l is presented in range with the lockin gpin I. When thehammer is at half-(lock the second hole 2 is so presented, and when thehannner is fully down the third hole 3 pre-I sented. In either positionthe thrusting of the pin I inward toward the axis Z) engages 1t in thecorrespondinghole, and seeures the haminer against possible movementuntil the pin I is withdrawn. J is a bent lever, turning on the center'j. One end takes hold of the pin I by engaging in a groove or betweencollars formed thereon. The other end earries a knob or stud, J whichmay be cperated from the outside of the stock or handle. K is a s1n'ing,a 'ran ged as shown, and which tends to move the lever J' so as toengage the pin I with the holes in the lever B. M is a safetycatch,capable of a little longitudinal mot1on, and driven upward by theooil-spring O, so that it tends to press always against the adjacent endof the lever J. A knife-edge, I), is formed on its upper end, which, inone position of the lever J, stands inside of the lever, and in theother position of the lever J stands outside thereof. In either positionit secures the lever J against being moved by any force. Thissafety-eatch M may be turned back, when required, by acting with thethumb-nail on the projection m, which extends out through a slot in thecasing A.

In the ordinary handling and transportation of a pistol or other arm,the pin I should be engaged in one of the holes 1, 2, or 3, preferablyin the hole 2, which corresponds to the half-cocked position of thehainmer. With some arms the other works of the lock are quite effectivein holding the parts against being discharged in the halfeockedposition. But all arms are liable, by

Wear or other cause, to become sufiiciently deranged to be diseharged athalf-coek by any considerable blow or other disturbing force. My pin Iis intended to insure absolute immunity against accidental discharge,exeept when the arm is intentionally put in condition for immediatel'iring by Withdrawin g the pin I.

In order to effect the operation of Withdrawing the pin I the force ofthe fingers or other means must be applied to two different parts.First, the projection 'm must be pressed down- Ward suflieiently toovercome the friction and oompress the springO. Havingthus withdrawn theSafety-catch M, the fingers of the same or other hand may be applied tothe projection or knob J pressing it inward with suffioient force towithdraw the pin I. So soon as the pin I is fully withdrawn from thehammer B the Safety-slide M may be released, on which it rises andengages on the outside of the lever J, and thenceforward holds the pin Iout of contact with the hammer B, and allows the pistol to be dischargedin the usual manner. 'I`he pistol should be only kept in this dangerouscondition until the emergency for which it was thus preparcd is passed,when, by the reverse operation, the pin I should be again thrust intoone of the holes in the haminer, aml again secured there by the slide M,as at irst.

I esteem it an advantage that the end of the pin I projects through theoutside of the case, and is visible from the outside, because it showsor aids to show at a glance, or by feeling in the dark, whether thepistol is or is not in condition for firing. I can modify the form andproportions of some of the parts and correspondingl y modify theoperation. Thus, for example, some may prefer to dispense with thelooking-slide M, and allow the lever J to be operated more easily.Others may prefer to partially dispense with it by filling up one sideof the ridgc on its upper end, so that while it is effective in holding`the pin I back or out of engagement with the hammer it is of no effectin holding it into engagement. lilither of these last modifications willallow the arm to be more easily put in condition for firing, but itinvolves obviously an inereased risk that the pin or equivalent Safetylockin g means I shall be moved into an unlocked position by anaecidental blow, and thus be rendered ineffective to the dan ger of theuser or his companions. Certain features of the invention may be usedwith some benefit without the others, but I- prefer to use the whole incombination.

I elaim as my invention- 1. A fire-arm having the pin or looking meansI, in combination with the hammer B, having two or more recesses, 1 2 3,and adapted to serve therewith in looking the hammer in severaldifferent positions, as and for the purposes herein specified.

2. In combination with the trigger D d and the usual provision forcocking, retaiuing, and liberating the hamrner by the trigger, theemployment of one or more separate reeesses,`1 2 3, in the hammer, incombination with a looking-piece, I, and spring K, acting throughsuitable eonnections to eonstantly throw the looking-piece intoengagement with the recesses, as and for the purposes specified.

3. The safety-catch M m, serving in combination with the hammer B,looking-piece I, and with suitable connecting and operatin g means tofnrther insnre against aeeident, as herein speeilied.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 23d day ofFebruary, 1875, in the presence of two subsci'ibing witnesses.

JOHN H. LESTER. VVitnosses:

AUG. BRANDEGEE, ROBERT PALMER.

